This school year has been insane. I went back to teaching a year before I intended to but couldn’t pass up the opportunity to have a dream job that I loved even more than I thought I would. Keeping up with that, the blog ( my other dream job) , writing a book, training and running a marathon, and spending time with my incredibly awesome and quirky family has left very little time for something I really really love, reading. This summer while school is out I am going to read like crazy! Read with my kids, read on the treadmill, at the soccer field, on the plane, and hopefully at the beach!
These are the books on my must read list. I haven’t read them yet, I can’t vouch for them, but I can tell you I am excited to crack them open! I have picture books and early chapter books for kids, YA for teens ( but I will totally be reading these, I have an inexplicable love affair with YA ) and books for adults too. We have fiction and non-fiction on each list, some books will be published this summer, and others aren’t new, just new to me. Age suggestions are just guidelines, you know your child best!
I am begging you to add your MUST read titles in comments or on our Facebook Page.
This list contains affiliate links
Picture Books I Can’t Wait To Read This Summer
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Max Barnett
Journey by Aaron Becker
Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dykeman
The Farmer and the Clown by Marla Frazee
Meet the Dullards by Sara Pennypacker
I Don’t Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat
What Pet Should I Get? (Classic Seuss) Dr.Seuss
Chapter Books To Read With Your Kids This Summer
El Deafo by Cece Bell ( grade 2+)
The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale
The Year of Billy Miller Kevin Henkes
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai ( grade 3+ )
Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes (A Percy Jackson and the Olympians Guide) by Rick Riordan ( non-fiction)
Quinny & Hopper by Adriana Brad Schanen ( grade 1+ )
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (grade 5 +)
YA Novels for Teens and Adults
The Heir (The selection Book 4) Kiera Cass
The Eye of Minds (Mortality Doctrine, Book One) James Dashner
Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
Legend (A Legend Novel, Book 1) Marie Lu
Winter (The Lunar Chronicles) Marissa Meyer
Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver
I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest
Books For Adults To Read This Summer
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown
The Girl on the Train: A Novel by Paula Hawkins
Go Set a Watchman: A Novel Harper Lee
After You: A Novel by JoJo Moyes
The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way by Amanda Ripley
Jenny says
A girl after my own heart. I have also recently discovered the joy of YA fiction….but I love ALL books. Bookstores are dangerous and the library is my friend! =)
Allison McDonald says
Isn’t it delicious – such fun easy reads!
Nancy says
Yes, I remember those days when I was teaching full time and my children were young. Like you, I couldn’t wait for summer vacation to have more time for reading. I used to stop at the library on the way home from the last day of school to stock up on books I’d been meaning to read all year. In listening to the audiobook of The Smartest Kids in the World and am really intrigued by the author’s insights.
Allison McDonald says
Yes!
Michelle says
Thanks! Those look great. I just put a bunch of them on hold at my library (not that I don’t already have an enormous stack of books I want to read). I have a weakness for YA fiction too. I’m currently reading Seraphina by Rachel Hartman and so far, it’s really good.
Allison McDonald says
Awesome – I am going to add that to my list! I finished The Heir and kinda felt like I wasted my time.
Patricia Mc says
I love all the books mentioned!! Another good one for adults and young adults is ~~A long walk to water~~. The ending even surprised me.
Here’s to a great summer for reading!!